[Candidates] for baptism are not
to be received after the second week in Lent.

Notes.

Ancient Epitome of Canon
XLV.

After two weeks of Lent no one must be admitted for
illumination, for all such should fast from its beginning.

Van Espen.

To the understanding of this canon it must be remembered
that such of the Gentiles as desired to become Catholics and to be
baptized, at first were privately instructed by the catechists.
After this, having acquired some knowledge of the Christian religion,
they were admitted to the public instructions given by the bishop in
church; and were therefore called Audientes and for the first
time properly-speaking Catechumens. But when these
catechumens had been kept in this rank a sufficient time and had been
there tried, they were allowed to go up to the higher grade called
Genuflectentes.

And when their exercises had been completed in this
order they were brought by the catechists who had had the charge of
them, to the bishop, that on the Holy Sabbath [Easter Even] they might
receive baptism, and the catechumens gave their names at the same time,
so that they might be set down for baptism at the coming Holy
Sabbath.

Moreover we learn from St. Augustine (Serm. xiii., Ad
Neophitos,) that the time for the giving in of the names was the
beginning of Lent.

This council therefore in this canon decrees that such
as do not hand in their names at the beginning of Lent, but after two
weeks are past, shall not be admitted to baptism on the next Holy
Sabbath.